The Ultimate Climbing Mt. Everest Quiz

Mount Everest is the world's tallest mountain, rising 29,035 feet (8,850 meters) above sea level. The Nepalese call it Sagarmatha, "goddess of the sky," and the Tibetans living north of the mountain called it Chomolungma, or "mother goddess of the world." Take this quiz to learn more about climbing Mount Everest.

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Question 1 of 20

How high is the world's tallest mountain?

29,035 feet

Mount Everest rises 29,035 feet (8,850 meters) above sea level.

28,000 feet

27,770 feet

Question 2 of 20

How many people have succeeded in climbing Mount Everest so far?

fewer than 1,000

1,000 - 2,000

more than 2,000

More than 2,200 people have succeeded in reaching the peak of Mount Everest.

Question 3 of 20

How many people have died while attempting to climb Mount Everest?

50

100

200

Nearly 200 have lost their lives attempting the climb to the top of Mount Everest. There are an estimated 120 bodies still on the mountain.

Question 4 of 20

Who said the famous words, "Because it is there"?

George Mallory

When asked, "Why climb Everest?" climber George Mallory gave the famous reply: "Because it is there."

Sir Edmund Hillary

Sir Ernest Shackleton

Question 5 of 20

What do the people of Nepal call Mount Everest?

Hiawatha

Sagarmatha

The Nepalese who live to the south of Mount Everest have always known that it was special. They called it Sagarmatha, which is translated variously as "goddess of the sky" and "forehead of the sky."

Zarathustra

Question 6 of 20

What name did the British surveyors have for Mount Everest in the mid-19th century?

Peak V

Peak X

Peak XV

In 1852, a Bengali mathematician and surveyor named Radhanath Sikhdar determined that "Peak XV" was actually the highest point on the earth. In 1865, Sikhdar's discovery was confirmed. India's Surveyor-General Sir Andrew Waugh renamed the mountain Mount Everest after Sir George Everest, his predecessor and the person overseeing the original survey that listed "Peak XV."

Question 7 of 20

Which among these is a form of altitude sickness?

HACE

High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) are two very common forms of altitude sickness. In case of HACE, the brain can actually swell and blood vessels begin to leak. When this happens, the climber may experience disorientation, hallucinations and even loss of consciousness.

HARE

HIPA

Question 8 of 20

In which year was the body of famous climber George Mallory, who died in 1924, found?

1989

1999

In 1999, a team of investigators located Mallory's body on the north face of Everest around at 27,000 feet. On the morning of June 8th 1924, Mallory and Irvine left the highest camp on Everest bound for the summit. At 1 p.m. they were seen climbing the mountain, behind schedule but still making progress toward the top. After that, they were never seen again.

2009

Question 9 of 20

What type of mountains are the Himalayas?

snake mountain

table mountain

fold mountain

The Himalayas are fold mountains formed millions of years ago by continental drift.

Question 10 of 20

Age-wise, what type of mountains are the Himalayas?

young mountain chain

The Himalayas are a relatively young mountain chain, having formed a mere 60 million years ago, in contrast to much older mountain chains like the Appalachians.

old mountain chain

ancient mountain chain

Question 11 of 20

The Himalayas are still growing. How much are they growing each year?

8 - 12 centimeters per year

2 - 6 centimeters per year

Due to continued shifting, the Himalayas rise between two and six centimeters per year. All of this geological activity creates instability and generates occasional earthquakes.

15 - 18 centimeters per year

Question 12 of 20

In which year did someone finally reached the summit of Mount Everest?

1973

1963

1953

In 1953, Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand mountain climber and beekeeper, and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa, became the first people credited with reaching the summit.

Question 13 of 20

Who was the first American to reach the top of Mount Everest?

Edwin Whittaker

Forest Whittaker

James Whittaker

In 1963, James Whittaker became the first American to reach the peak.

Question 14 of 20

Who was first woman to reach to the top of Mount Everest?

Junko Tabei

In 1975, a Japanese woman named Junko Tabei became the first woman to climber to reach the peak.

Sally Ride

Amelia Earhart

Question 15 of 20

Who was first blind person to reach the top of Mount Everest?

James Thurber

Erik Weihenmayer

American Erik Weihenmayer became the first sightless person to scale Everest in 2001.

Jorge Luis Borges

Question 16 of 20

What is the average cost of a fully guided journey up Mount Everest from the south face?

105,000

85,000

65,000

The average cost of a fully guided journey up Everest from the south is $65,000. A fully guided climb from the north costs somewhat less, averaging around $40,000. These costs do not typically include personal gear, international airfare, or insurance, all of which can add thousands to the trip.

Question 17 of 20

What are Nepalese hired as guides and porters popularly known as?

Sherpa

Many people associate the term "Sherpa" with the job of Everest porter. However, Sherpa actually means "easterners" or "east people," and refers to clans that came from Tibet and settled the eastern reaches of Nepal about 500 years ago. Approximately 30,000 Sherpas live in Nepal.

Naga

Mizo

Question 18 of 20

What is the ideal time of the year to attempt to climb Mount Everest?

October - December

April - May

Most climbers attempt Everest during April and May. In the winter, low temperatures and hurricane-force winds make climbing difficult. Between June and September, summer monsoons create intense storms and violent precipitation.

June- September

Question 19 of 20

How much time does an attempt to climb Mount Everest usually take?

0.5 month

1.5 months

2.5 months

From home and back again, most trips to the top of Everest take about two and a half months.

Question 20 of 20

What are the tallest mountains on each continent collectively known as?